Harold Joseph "Hal" Shymkus, 86, of Española, N.M., formerly of Columbus, passed away Thursday, December 13, 2012, following a brief illness. He was a 20-year resident of Española.

He was born in the Chicago area May 6, 1926, the son of Joseph and Hazel Macleod Shymkus. They preceded him in death.

Mr. Shymkus graduated from Thornton High School and immediately entered the Army Air Corps, serving as an MP in Italy during the occupation in World War II. After mustering out of the service, he attended Thornton Junior College for two years. He then enrolled at Franklin College in Franklin, majoring in journalism. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. While there, he met his future wife, Mary Beth Newsom of Columbus. After graduating with a degree in journalism, he took a job as editor of the Homewood-Flossmoor Star.

Hal and Mary Beth were married September 16, 1951, in Columbus. They moved to Columbus to pursue his career with Cummins, where he served in parts-sales and later in the area of marketing and advertising. He retired from Cummins and he and Mary Beth moved to Española in 1993.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Beth; a son, David Shymkus (Pamela) of Columbus; a daughter, Lisa Shymkus (Randall Jones) of Santa Fe, N.M.; grandchildren, Nick and Emily Jones of Wellington, New Zealand, Lauren Turner (Brian) of Charleston, S.C., and Jenna Voelz (Grant) of Columbus; a great-grandchild, Vivian Faith Voelz; a sister-in-law, Martha May Newsom of Columbus; numerous nieces and nephews in Bowling Green; and other loving relatives and friends.

Hal was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid golfer, die-hard fisherman, writer of books and short stories, oil painter, potter, and a longtime member of the New Mexico Outdoor Writers and Photographers.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 19, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church in Columbus, with interment in the church columbarium. Calling will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Franklin College or Ghost Ranch Conference Center in Abiquiu, NM.

Arrangements were made by DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.